Communication method and system

ABSTRACT

A telecommunication system comprises a mobile station, or handset, usable by a user, at least one switching centre connectable to the mobile station. The system is arranged such that when an attempt to establish a connection between the mobile station and the switching centre fails, information relating to the cause of the connection failure is provided to the mobile station. The mobile station is able to provide this information to a help centre.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication method andsystem. In particular, but not exclusively, the present inventionrelates to a data communication system and method.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Wireless cellular networks are known in which the area covered bythe network is divided into cells. Each cell has a base stationassociated therewith, which is arranged to communicate with mobilestations or other suitable devices in the respective cell. Thecommunications between the mobile stations and the base stations useradio frequency signals. Typical mobile stations are arranged to providevoice and data services.

[0003] The GPRS standard allows mobile stations to send and receivedata. Using this standard, it is possible to send and receive faxes andalso to make connections with the Internet, usually to download datatherefrom. It is also possible with the GPRS standard to receive andsend email messages. With these data services, particularly those wherethe user is accessing the Internet, the user may find that it is notpossible to establish a connection. The failure to establish aconnection may be due to problems with the network, the result of a usererror when establishing connection, be a service which is not available,or because the requested service is not available to the particularuser. Currently, the user either succeeds in establishing a connectionor fails. The user will not know why a connection has failed. If a userfails to establish a connection, he will usually repeatedly try toestablish the connection. Repeated failure to establish a connection,for example due to a user error or the like can be particularlyfrustrating for the user.

[0004] An additional problem is that if the user contacts the networkoperator to request assistance, it is not simple for the networkoperator to determine the cause of the failure to establish aconnection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an aim of embodiments of the present invention toaddress the problems discussed previously.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention there isprovided a communications system comprising a first node usable by auser, at least one second node, said first node being connectable withthe second node, said system being arranged such that when a connectionfailure occurs between said first node and said second node, informationrelating to the cause of said connection failure is provided to saidfirst node, said first node comprising means for providing informationrelating to said connection failure to a third node.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the present invention there isprovided a communication method comprising the steps of determining whena connection failure occurs between a first node and a second node;providing information relating to the cause of said connection failureto the first node; and providing information relating to the connectionfailure from the first node to a third node.

[0008] According to a third aspect of the present invention there isprovided a node for use in a communication system comprising said nodeand at least two further nodes, said node and one of said further nodesbeing connectable, wherein said node is arranged to receive informationwhen a connection failure occurs between said node and said one of saidfurther nodes, said node comprises means for providing informationrelating to the cause of said connection failure to another one of saidfurther nodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a better understanding of the present invention and as to howthe same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by wayof example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a cellular network with which embodiments of thepresent invention can be used;

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a GPRS system with whichembodiments of the present invention can be used; and

[0012]FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the steps carried out in embodimentsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which shows part of a wirelesscellular network with which embodiments of the present invention can beused. The area covered by the network 2 is divided into a plurality ofcells 4. Each of the cells has a base station subsystem 6 associatedwith it. The base station subsystem 6 is arranged to send signals to andreceive signals from mobile stations 8 or other user equipment in thecell associated with the base station subsystem 6. The signals sentbetween the mobile station 8 and the base station subsystem 6 allowvoice and data connections to be established. The connection between themobile stations 8 and the base station subsystems 6 is a radioconnection.

[0014] Reference will now be made to FIG. 2, which shows part of a GPRSnetwork with which embodiments of the present invention can be used. Themobile station 8 is able to communicate with the base transceiverstation 8 via a radio connection. The base transceiver station isconnected to a base station controller 9 which is in turn connected to amobile services switching centre MSC 10. The mobile services switchingcentre 10 is generally used for voice connections which the mobilestation makes to third parties. The mobile services switching centre 10is connected to a help centre 12. It should be appreciated that themobile services switching centre 10 also is used when certain types ofdata service are used. For example, the mobile services switching centre10 is used with the short message service SMS. The short message serviceallows the mobile station to receive from and to send to third partiesshort messages. This is controlled by the mobile services switchingcentre 10.

[0015] The base station controller 9 is also connected to a serving GPRSsupport node SGSN 14 which is used for GPRS services. The SGSN 14 keepstrack of the mobile station's location and performs security functionsand access control. The SGSN 14 is also connected to a help centre 12.This help centre may be the same or different to the help centre 12.

[0016] The SGSN 14 is also connected to a gateway GPRS support node GGSN18. The GGSN 18 acts as a gateway and allows connections to be made todifferent networks or the like. Finally, the SGSN 14 is also connectedto a domain name system DNS 20. The domain name server 20 storesaddresses for site names. Thus the user will enter an access point (AP)name into his mobile station. The domain name server is able to takethis name and provide the address of the site in a form which can beunderstood by various of the network elements.

[0017] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which describes the stepsembodying the present invention. In step S1 the mobile station requestsa connection. This example is a PDP context activation request. Anyother type of connection request may be provided. This connection may bewith another telephone, mobile all connected to a fixed network or maybe to an internet location or the like.

[0018] In step S2, the base station subsystem receives the connectionrequest from the mobile station. The base transceiver station willforward data connection requests to the SGSN and voice connectionrequests to the mobile services switching centre. Short message serviceconnection requests can be optionally sent to the mobile servicesswitching centre or to the SGSN. The data connection request will beconsidered, by way of example. A voice connection request may beforwarded to the mobile services switching centre in step S3′. Theremaining steps are not described but may be similar to those outlinedhereinafter relating to the data connection.

[0019] In step S3, the SGSN receives the connection request. In step S4,the SGSN may carry out an authentication procedure. This is a straightforward procedure in which the SGSN simply checks the identity of themobile station in question. For an attach, the SGSN will need toexchange information with the mobile station and will need to accessinformation from a separate location, such as an authentication centre.It should be appreciated that in some embodiments of the presentinvention, this authentication step may be omitted if the mobile stationhas attached to the network earlier and has previously beenauthenticated. A more complex procedure may be carried out inalternative embodiments.

[0020] If the authentication procedure is successful, step S5 is carriedout. In step S5, the SGSN checks to see whether or not the subscriber isable to make the type of connection which he is attempting. For example,the SGSN will check to see whether or not the mobile station supports aconnection to the Internet or the like and/or checks to see whether ornot the mobile station has subscribed to the necessary operator serviceswhich permit the mobile station to use the requested service. It shouldbe appreciated that the subscription may contain many parameters suchas: access point name (APN); packet data protocol (PDP) type; fixed ordynamic address; quality of service profile; access restricted to homepublic land mobile network (PLMN) GGSN etc. Accordingly a PDP contextrequest may be rejected for a number of different reasons in step S5. Ifthis check is successful, and the mobile station is attempting toconnect to the internet, the next step is step S6.

[0021] In step S6, the SGSN takes the access point name with which themobile station is requesting a connection and obtains from the domainname system (DNS) 20 the address of the associated site. The name isreceived by the SGSN from the mobile station. Provided that the mobilestation has not made an error in the name of the site and that thedomain name service is working, the SGSN will receive from the domainname system 20 the associated address. The address provided by thedomain name system is the GGSN address. A second domain name system maybe used after the GGSN to retrieve the Internet address.

[0022] In step S7, the SGSN may make a further check to see if the useris permitted to be connected to the particular GGSN. For example, thesubscriber may be limited to access only the Home GGSN. Alternatively,company employees using a company mobile station may be prevented fromaccessing certain sites, such as entertainment sites or the like. Theremay be alternative reasons why the user is not permitted to be connectedto the GGSN.

[0023] In step S8, assuming that the subscriber is permitted to connectwith the GGSN the PDP context activation request is forwarded to theGGSN. The GGSN will further check if a PDP context can be establishedfor the mobile station. The user may be authenticated by a passwordusing a radius server. The GGSN may also or alternatively check otherparameters such as a selection mode parameter. The connection may alsofail if the GGSN has a lack of resource. If the PDP context request canbe accepted, the GGSN advises the SGSN in step S9. The SGSN advises themobile station n in step S10. In that way, the mobile station is able toconnect to the required GGSN.

[0024] In the method described in FIG. 3, there may be a number ofpossible reasons why a connection is not established. For example, theauthentication of step S4 might fail, the subscriber may not be apermitted subscriber able to make the type of connection requested andstep S5 may not be successful, the name of the site provided by themobile station may be incorrect, for example due to a spelling mistakeor the like so it is not possible to obtain an address from the domainname server 20 or the domain name server is not operating correctly, theservice requested for the subscriber is not a permitted one or the GGSNcheck may fail. In all of those cases (steps S4 to S9), S11 is the nextstep which determines that the connection has failed and why. When aconnection has failed, in step S12, an error message is sent to themobile station. This error message may tell the mobile station that theconnection has failed and include information identifying the reason forfailure. A message is preferably displayed on the display which allowsthe user to determine that the connection has failed. The error messagepreferably also asks the user if he would like assistance. It should beappreciated that the reason for the failure may not be displayed and/ormay not be in a form which is understood by the user. In someembodiments of the invention, the reason for the failure is not sent tothe mobile station.

[0025] In step S13, the user is able to indicate using the deviceinterface that he would like assistance. The mobile station will thensend a message indicating that it requests assistance. This message willin one embodiment of the present invention be a short message serviceSMS message which is sent to a prerecorded help centre number.Typically, the message will include the mobile identity. The mobilestation identification may be the IMSI number, the mobile station ISDNnumber or any other suitable identification. The error message alsoincludes the reason as to why the connection has failed. The message mayalso include the failure event.

[0026] The message also preferably includes configuration informationrelating to the mobile station. This information may include one or moreof the following types of information:

[0027] might fail, the subscriber may not be a permitted subscriber ableto make the type of connection requested and step S5 may not besuccessful, the name of the site provided by the mobile station may beincorrect, for example due to a spelling mistake or the like so it isnot possible to obtain an address from the domain name server 20 or thedomain name server is not operating correctly, the service requested forthe subscriber is not a permitted one or the GGSN check may fail. In allof those cases (steps S4 to S9), S11 is the next step which determinesthat the connection has failed and why. When a connection has failed, instep S12, an error message is sent to the mobile station. This errormessage may tell the mobile station that the connection has failed andinclude information identifying the reason for failure. A message ispreferably displayed on the display which allows the user to determinethat the connection has failed. The error message preferably also asksthe user if he would like assistance. It should be appreciated that thereason for the failure may not be displayed and/or may not be in a formwhich is understood by the user. In some embodiments of the invention,the reason for the failure is not sent to the mobile station.

[0028] In step S13, the user is able to indicate using the deviceinterface that he would like assistance. The mobile station will thensend a message indicating that it requests assistance. This message willin one embodiment of the present invention be a short message serviceSMS message which is sent to a prerecorded help centre number.Typically, the message will include the mobile identity. The mobilestation identification may be the IMSI number, the mobile station ISDNnumber or any other suitable identification. The error message alsoincludes the reason as to why the connection has failed. The message mayalso include the failure event.

[0029] The message also preferably includes configuration informationrelating to the mobile station. This information may include one or moreof the following types of information:

[0030] the quality of service requested by the user; the PDP (packetdata protocol) address used by the mobile station to make theconnection; the packet data protocol type used by the user; and theaccess point name (APN).

[0031] In step S14 the short message service message SMS generated bythe mobile station is transmitted to the base transceiver station. Thisshort message service data message can be forwarded to the mobileservices switching centre and from there to the help centre associatedtherewith. A connection is established with the help centre. The shortservice message may be sent via the SGSN.

[0032] It should be appreciated that in preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, the mobile station is arranged to automaticallygenerate the SMS message if the user indicates that he requiresassistance. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, theuser may assist in the generation of the short message service message.In yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, themobile station is arranged to automatically generate the SMS messageonce the mobile station has received an indication of an error. In thislafter case, the user would not be required to indicate via theinterface whether or not he required assistance.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the invention, as soon as it isdetermined that there is an error, the mobile station is automaticallyprovided with assistance without being first advised that there is anerror.

[0034] In step S15 the help centre is able to determine from the messagereceived from the mobile station the cause of the error. The help centrecan do a number of things. For example, the help centre can generate amessage, for example a short message service message which is sent tothe mobile station explaining to the user the reason for the failure. Ifnecessary, the message can indicate what needs to be changed, either amobile station setting or information input by the user.

[0035] In a second alternative, the help centre can send information toalter the settings of the mobile station in order to permit the error tobe corrected. This can be done using a MEXE or SIM tool kit.

[0036] In a third possibility, a telephone connection is establishedwith the help centre so that an advisor at the help centre is able toadvise the user of the mobile station as to the problem.

[0037] In a fourth possibility, the help centre may send a message tothe user advising him as to a code or information relating to the error.The user of the mobile station can then call the help centre and havethe error associated with the code received by the user explained by thehelp centre.

[0038] It should be appreciated that in embodiments of the presentinvention, one or more of the options outlined above may be used.

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful withmore complex services such as GPRS and the proposed third generationstandard (UMTS). The user will generally have to perform more complexsteps in order to configure the connection.

[0040] In the case of the GPRS and UMTS system, problems can occur withthe mobile station configuration, a fault with the base stationcontroller, a fault with the SGSN, a fault with the GGSN, a fault withthe internet service provider or there may be a normal case of operationbut where the subscriber data has introduced a limitation and so on.

[0041] By way of example, a list of possible causes of connectionfailure in the case of an unsuccessful GPRS packet data protocol (PDP)context activation will now be explained. This is as described in theassociated ETSI specification No 04.08.

[0042] 1. The access point name APN is missing or incorrect.

[0043] 2. The PDP address or PDP type is unknown.

[0044] 3. The user authentication has failed.

[0045] 4. The activation has been rejected by the GGSN. The GGSN maycarry out its own authentication and this may have been rejected.

[0046] 5. The activation has been rejected for an unspecified reason.

[0047] 6. The service option requested by the user is not supported.

[0048] 7. The user does not subscribe to the requested service.

[0049] 8. The service requested by the user is temporarily out of orderor unavailable.

[0050] 9. The network service access point identifier (NSAPI) is alreadyused.

[0051] 10. There is a regular deactivation—for example if the quality ofservice of the connection is not acceptable, there will be an automaticdeactivation.

[0052] 11. The available quality of service has not been accepted by themobile station and therefore the connection is not made.

[0053] 12. There has been a network failure.

[0054] 13. Reactivation is required. This will require the mobilestation to detach and then reattach to the network.

[0055] The following messages relate to the protocol associated with PDPcontext activation:

[0056] 14. The transaction identifier value used is invalid.

[0057] 15. The message is semantically incorrect.

[0058] 16. The mandatory information in the message is invalid.

[0059] 17. The message type is nonexistent or not implemented.

[0060] 18. The message type is not compatible with the protocol state.

[0061] 19. The information element is nonexistent or not implemented.

[0062] 20. There is a conditional information element error. In otherwords, there is an error in the non-mandatory information.

[0063] 21. The message is not compatible with the protocol state.

[0064] 22. There is a protocol error of an unspecified reason.

[0065] The operator may not charge the user for the message, sentautomatically by the MS. This may be done by informing the billingoperator to deduct a charge for one message. Alternatively, the operatormay automatically charge the user. The help centre can be arranged sothat the charges associated with the message sent to the user arededucted from the user's bill.

[0066] It should be appreciated that whilst embodiments of the presentinvention have been described in the context of a GPRS system,embodiments of the present invention can be used with any other datasystem. Embodiments of the present invention can be used with datapacket systems or non packet data systems. Alternative embodiments ofthe present invention can also be used with voice systems or systemswhich provide voice and data communications.

[0067] Embodiments of the present invention have been described inassociation with wireless telecommunication systems. However,embodiments of the present invention can also be used in conjunctionwith wired telecommunication systems.

[0068] Embodiments of the present invention have been described in thecontext of a network which uses mobile stations. The mobile stations maybe mobile telephones, portable computers or any other suitable device.It should also be appreciated that embodiments of the present inventionare also applicable to any type of user equipment which is moveable orin a fixed location.

[0069] It should be appreciated that the error messages which have beendescribed above in the context of a PDP context activation or by way ofexample only. Any suitable error message can be provided to the mobilestation.

[0070] The method described in relation to FIG. 3 has described errormessages resulting only from errors occurring in an PDP contextactivation. However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of thepresent invention have much broader application and can be used in anyscenario. Embodiments of the present invention can be used whereverthere is a problem in establishing a connection, whether it be a voiceor a data or any other type of connection, to advise the user as to thenature of the error and/or to assist the user in correcting the error.

[0071] When an attach procedure fails in GSM/GPRS or UMTS, a shortmessage service SMS message can be sent to the Help Center. This ispossible because, if the attach to the mobile services switching centreservices fail, the mobile may be capable of attaching to the SGSNservices which also support SMS. Alternatively if the attach procedureto the SGSN service fails the mobile may be capable of attaching to themobile service switching centre services which also supports SMS.

[0072] Whilst the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in the context of a PDP context activation request,embodiments of the present invention can be used in the context of anyother request whether it be a connection request or otherwise.Embodiments of the invention can alternatively or additionally be usedwhenever there is a failure or change to the service.

[0073] Embodiments of the present invention can also be used in othererror conditions. For example, embodiments of the present invention canbe used wherever there is a problem. For example, if a connection isbroken, the user can be advised as to the reason for this failure. Forexample, this may be because a user has moved from the coverage of oneoperator to the coverage area of another operator and the other operatordoes not support the service being used by the mobile station.

[0074] Embodiments of the present invention have used SMS messages asthese may be sent and received even if other types of connection can notbe set up. However, alternative embodiments of the invention may use anyother suitable service such as anonymous access, voice or a dataconnection.

1. A communications system comprising a first node usable by a user, atleast one second node, said first node being connectable with the secondnode, said system being arranged such that when a connection failureoccurs between said first node and said second node, informationrelating to the cause of said connection failure is provided to saidfirst node, said first node comprising means for providing informationrelating to said connection failure to a third node.
 2. A communicationsystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third node is arranged toprovide assistance to said first node.
 3. A communications system asclaimed in any preceding claim, wherein said information provided to thefirst node causes the first node to request if the user requiresassistance from the third node.
 4. A communications system as claimed inany preceding claim, wherein said third node sends information to changeat least one setting of the first node.
 5. A communications system asclaimed in any preceding claim, wherein said third node is arranged tosend a message to the first node advising as to the cause of thefailure.
 6. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claim,wherein a connection is established between the first node and the thirdnode so that the user is able to communicate with a helper at the thirdnode.
 7. A communication system as claimed in any preceding claim,wherein said third node communicates with said first node via saidsecond node.
 8. A communication system as claimed in any precedingclaim, wherein said third node is arranged to ensure that said userreceives the charges associated with said assistance.
 9. A communicationsystem as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said communicationsystem is a wireless telecommunications system.
 10. A communicationsystem as claimed in claim 9, wherein said communication system is acellular telecommunications system.
 11. A communications system asclaimed in any preceding claim, wherein said communications systemsupports voice connections.
 12. A communications system as claimed inany preceding claim, wherein said communication system supports dataconnections.
 13. A communications system as claimed in claim 12, whereinsaid communications system is a GPRS system.
 14. A communications systemas claimed in claim 13, wherein said second node is a SGSN.
 15. A systemas claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said information is providedby a SMS service.
 16. A communications system as claimed in anypreceding claim, wherein said first node comprises user equipment.
 17. Acommunications system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said userequipment comprises a mobile station.
 18. A communication system asclaimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein said communication system is awired telecommunications system.
 19. A communications system as claimedin any preceding claim wherein said connection failure occurs for one ormore of the following reasons: incorrect information input by said userto said first node; an unavailable service requested by said user; theuser does not subscribe to a requested service; incorrect settings ofsaid first node; and errors at the second node or any other node.
 20. Acommunication method comprising the steps of: determining when aconnection failure occurs between a first node and a second node;providing information relating to the cause of said connection failureto the first node; and providing information relating to the connectionfailure from the first node to a third node.
 21. A method as claimed inclaim 20 further comprising the step of providing assistance to thefirst node.
 22. A node for use in a communication system comprising saidnode and at least two further nodes, said node and one of said furthernodes being connectable, wherein said node is arranged to receiveinformation when a connection failure occurs between said node and saidone of said further nodes, said node comprises means for providinginformation relating to the cause of said connection failure to anotherone of said further nodes.
 23. A node as claimed in claim 22, whereinsaid node comprises means for receiving assistance from said another ofsaid further nodes.
 24. A node for use in a communications system, saidcommunications system further comprises a first further node and asecond further node which are connectable, said node comprising meansfor receiving information from the first further node when a connectionfailure occurs, said information relating to the cause of saidconnection failure, said node being arranged to provide assistance tosaid first further node in response to said information.